On April 9, 2019, Benjamin Netanyahu secured his bid for re-election and assumed his role as Prime Minister of Israel for the 10th year in a row. However, during this election campaign, Netanyahu’s victory was certainly not as definite when compared to previous elections. While Netanyahu was under investigation for allegations of corruption, his campaign faced substantial challenges from Benny Gantz’s Kahol Lavan party- the centrist party that was polling ahead of Netanyahu’s Likud party in several projection polls. Although it appeared as though Netanyahu would lose his bid for re-election, he ultimately emerged victorious and secured his fifth term in office. This outcome ultimately begs the question as to how Netanyahu managed to orchestrate yet another win and prove the projection polls wrong.
First, it is crucial to acknowledge that Netanyahu’s Likud party failed to secure a majority government and that they had in fact tied with the Kahol Lavan party once the votes were tallied. When it was revealed that both parties were tied, Netanyahu began to court the support of nationalist, religious, and right-wing parties in the Knesset to form a coalition government. In particular, Netanyahu courted the support of the Shas, UTJ, Yisrael Beiteinu, URWP, and Kulanu. Although both the Likud and Kahol Lavan parties held 35 seats in the Knesset, the coalition of the Likud with other minority parties formed a coalition that contained 65 out of 120 Knesset seats. This guaranteed the coalition’s control over the Knesset and secured the Likud party’s victory over Kahol Lavan: on April 10, 2019, Gantz formally conceded defeat to Netanyahu’s party. Despite not forming a majority government, the Likud party managed to successfully negate the threat posed by the center-left bloc of parties by forming a coalition that will likely control the Knesset for the remainder of the term. In particular, this election demonstrates the success of the right in mobilizing the various fragmented elements as a counter against center-left forces to form a united front as a right-wing voting bloc.
From a more international perspective, it is entirely possible that President Donald Trump’s support of Netanyahu helped bolster the confidence of right-win voters in favour of Netanyahu. On March 25 2019, Trump signed a declaration formally recognizing Israel’s annexation of the Golan Heights, thereby legitimizing Israel’s sovereignty over the territory and rejecting the claim to the land held by the occupied Arab peoples. This foreign policy move bolstered Netanyahu’s self-defined position as a staunch defender of Israeli occupation that had been established prior to his contentious election. In a speech made in reaction to Trump’s support, Netanyahu acknowledged the declaration as a moment that “made history” and claimed it to be a “Purim miracle”. During the same speech, he also thanked Trump for relocating the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in 2018.
Accordingly, it is easy to see why Trump’s support could bolster Netanyahu’s chances of winning his bid for re-election. Such friendly ties between the Israeli Prime Minister and American President aid in legitimizing each other’s stances as staunch promoters of right-wing policies. In Netanyahu’s case, having the image of being an uncompromising defender of Israeli occupation with the full support of the U.S. President likely strengthened Netanyahu’s public perception and solidified the support of right-wing Israeli voters.
What might lie ahead for Israel’s future with Netanyahu at the helm once more? Judging by his campaign platform, it appears as though Israeli policy will likely push further to the right than it has in the past. With Netanyahu as Prime Minister for the last decade, Israeli policy has progressively shifted from being center-right to hawkish with Netanyahu successfully solidifying himself a defender of Jewish nationalism at any cost. He has given power and credence to the ultra-orthodox and right-wing supporters within Israel, who he continuously relies on for support against center-left factions. Under Netanyahu, hopes for peace with Palestine and the implementation of the two-state solution have fallen by the wayside. Tensions between Palestinians and Israelis have sharply escalated as the occupation of Palestinian lands has gotten increasingly pervasive and violent. Furthermore, Netanyahu has also developed a strong, anti-Iranian foreign policy in a bid to strengthen Israel’s national security and limit the threat that he perceives of Iranian political influence in the Middle East and neighboring states.
In his quest for re-election, Netanyahu has promised voters that if elected, he would annex illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank and therefore forego any peace talks with the Palestinians from the occupied West Bank. This move signals a worrying future for Palestinians living on occupied lands as there would be a steep escalation in the violence and oppression experienced by Palestinians. By annexing the West Bank, Netanyahu would essentially forego any peace talks with the Palestinians and make the temporary occupation a permanent endeavor. It could also bring about tension between Israel and other foreign countries, especially Arab nations within the Middle East who recognize the right of Palestinians to the occupied land.
Moreover, it is likely that Netanyahu will continue to promote anti-Iran rhetoric in an effort to project a strong image of Israeli foreign policy. As per Netanyahu’s foreign policy agenda, a strong Jewish nation is one which limits the influence of Iran, deeming the nation an ideological opponent that fundamentally opposes the existence of a Jewish nation. Netanyahu can likely rely on further support from Trump, considering that the two share a common bond over their vocal criticism of Iran and oppose any form of cooperation with the Islamic Republic. Such support from Trump will help to further bolster Netanyahu’s legitimacy and strengthen his national security measures against Iran. All in all, Netanyahu’s election demonstrates the success of the conservatives in their efforts to mobilize and poses a significant threat to the stability of the Middle East.
By Alyssa Atef
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